Deacons are appointed

A dispute arises in regard to the distribution of the church's assistance to widows

1) In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Satan's attacks on the church have come on many different fronts: he has attempted many forms of direct opposition and intimidation, and he has tried to corrupt the church from within; now he hopes to "divide and conquer" by raising one faction of the church against another.

Notice the mathematics in the Book of Acts. In Chapter 2, the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47). Here in chapter 6, the number of the disciples was multiplied. But between the addition to the Church and the multiplication of the Church, there was subtraction from the Church, when the Lord removed Ananias and Sapphira in Chapter 5.

Sometimes that happens to us as well: things are moving along. We're growing. We're being added to — then suddenly we're hit with a painful period of subtraction. If you're in that place today, take hope. It means good things are coming. As He did in Acts, the Lord often subtracts right before He multiplies.

The Hebrews were those Jews who were more inclined to embrace Jewish culture and were mostly from Judea; the Hellenists were those Jews who were more inclined to embrace Greek culture and were mostly from the Diaspora (all over the Roman Empire). For the most part, Hebrews tended to regard Hellenists as unspiritual sell-outs to Greek culture, and Hellenists regarded Hebrews as holier-than-thou traditionalists.

During the days of Alexander the Great, Greek culture, style of dress, and philosophy of life permeated the then-known world. Consequently, many Jews adopted Grecian ways. They were known as Grecians, or Hellenists. Other Jews, called Hebrews, kept true to the old ways and traditions of Judaism. The Hebrew believers looked down on the Grecian believers as compromising, `second-class' Jews. Thus, with the Grecians claiming that their widows were being neglected in the daily serving of food, discrimination set in. Consequently, there was a potential division in the baby Church based upon who was supposedly `more spiritual' — a problem which can surface whenever a church grows . . .

`Can you believe it? He actually wore a business suit. Who let him in?'

`Hey, those bikers can't come dressed like that.'

`We can't allow these former homosexuals to fellowship with us. We can't allow their children to be in the nursery with our children. What about the AIDS virus?'

Discrimination can take place in all kinds of subtle ways, and the early Church was no exception. Here in Acts 6, as the Church was multiplying, storm clouds were forming which could have blown the whole thing apart.

The early church took its responsibility to help support widows seriously, because they often had no other support, but they also expected these widows to serve the church faithfully. (1 Timothy 5:3-16)

Apparently, some of the Hellenistic Jews believed that the widows among the Hebrew Jews were receiving better care. "It is not suggested that the oversight was deliberate . . . more probably the cause was poor administration or supervision."  "In a congregation of that size, it was inevitable that someone's needs would be overlooked."

The apostles arrange for deacons to be nominated

2) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3) Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4) and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

The apostles explain that they should remain faithful to their central calling, and that is to prayer and to the ministry of the word; it would be wrong for them to spend their time serving tables. They are wise in delegating these responsibilities; God has not called these apostles to be everything for the church; God has and will raise up others to serve in other ways.

A pastor should not have his time consumed in tasks that are essentially serving tables; yet there is something wrong with a pastor who considers some tasks "beneath" him. "A 'table' at that time meant a place where a money changer did his collecting or exchanging of money. The deacons were elected to oversee the distribution of monies and provisions to the needy among the fellowship."

The fact that the apostles busied themselves with prayer and . . . the ministry of the word shows how energetically they did those things, and how consuming it is to preach and pray rightly. The ministry - even apart from administrative headaches is a lot of work. A young man said to Donald Grey Barnhouse, "I'd give the world to be able to teach the Bible like you." Looking his straight in the eye, Dr. Barnhouse replied: "Good, because that's exactly what it will cost you."

The qualifications described by the apostles speak to the character of the men to be chosen (of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom); they are far more concerned with the internal quality of the men than the outward appearance. Why did they choose seven? It may have been so that one could oversee the needs of the widows a different day of the week.

The idea behind full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom is that these men should be both spiritually minded and practically minded.

Whom we may appoint: the final decision rested with the apostles, though they wanted and valued the input from the congregation.

Deacons are chosen

5) This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6) They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7) So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Seven men are chosen to serve tables; it is simple, practical service that they are appointed to; yet they must be well qualified for this as well, especially because of the danger of division. These men would probably be literally serving tables; arranging for the room and board of these needy widows. People should count it a privilege to serve the Lord in these basic, practical ways, instead of seeing it as an "unspiritual" burden. The same word is used for both distribution (verse 1) and ministry (verse 4); the idea behind both is service, whether to the needy or to God's word.

Verse 7 should be starred, circled, underlined, and highlighted by everyone involved in ministry. The secret to Church growth and ministry expansion is simply to feed the flock. Healthy sheep reproduce. It's inevitable.

The seven men all have Greek names, indicating that they are probably Hellenists themselves; the people (and the apostles) show great sensitivity to the offended Hellenists by appointing Hellenists to take care of the widow's distribution.

In this case, the people nominated the men, and the apostles approved them by laying hands on them, after praying for God's guidance and approval.

We usually lay hands and then pray. These guys went about it differently. They prayed before the laying on of hands. Could this be what Paul meant when he told Timothy to, `Lay hands on no man suddenly,' (I Timothy 5.22). All things by prayer and supplication!

Considering all that could have gone wrong, everyone involved gets high marks. Those with the complaint did the right thing (made the need known and trusted the solution of the apostles).  Those of the other party did the right thing (recognized that others had need and trusted the solution of the apostles). The seven chosen did the right thing (accepted the call to unglamorous service). The apostles did the right thing (responded to the need without distracting themselves from their central task).

Because this situation was handled with wisdom and sensitivity to those who were offended, a potentially divisive issue was defused, and the gospel continued to go forth - even to the point where many priests were being saved. Another potential trap was also avoided: the apostles did not stop putting their focus where it belonged - in prayer and the word of God.

Stephen's witness and arrest

Stephen's witness for God

8) Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9) Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10) but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

God did not only do wonders and signs through the apostles, but also through others - notably those who were full of faith and power.

In Matthew 25, Jesus taught that those who are faithful in little things will be made rulers over greater things. If we desire to be used by the Lord, we must be faithful in the things He gives us to do in the beginning days of our service, of our ministry. The Scripture tells us not to despise the days of small things (Zechariah 4:10), yet many people find themselves reluctant to do the seemingly insignificant tasks. Desirous of something grander, they feel menial service is beneath them. But the way of the Lord is that we first prove ourselves in smaller things and, as we are faithful in them, He will give us greater responsibility.

The reward for faithfulness in service is greater service. Jesus came on the scene and said something radical when He said, `Happiness is found in losing your life, in giving yourself away. Happiness is found in serving, not in being served; in giving, not in getting,' (Matthew 10:39). Today if you're feeling somewhat blue, perhaps it's because you're not engaging yourself in serving others. When you feel like throwing in the towel, take up the towel instead. Wash someone's feet and suddenly you'll be refreshed.

Stephen modeled this beautifully. He began by serving tables, helping feed widows — not necessarily a glorious position, not an exalted kind of ministry. But because he was faithful, he was then elected to the office of deacon (Acts 6:5) — one of seven men chosen by the early Church as being a man full of the Holy Ghost, full of wisdom, and full of good works. Here we see him doing `great wonders and miracles among the people'. Follow the progression: he went from a table server to a deacon to a miracle worker because he was faithful at each step.

Stephen enters into an active debate with Jews from a particular synagogue; empowered by the Holy Spirit, he shows great wisdom than they. There is no indication that Stephen in himself was smarter, better educated, or a better debater than these Jews; we should attribute his upper hand in the debate to the Spirit by which he spoke. "The mention of Cilicia suggests this may have been Paul's synagogue before he was converted. He came from Tarsus in Cilicia."

The opposing Jews, defeated in debate, marshal false accusations against Stephen

11) Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
12) So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13) They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14) For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."

Significantly, many of the same false accusations were leveled against Jesus (Matthew 26:59-61); you are in a good place when people are treating you like they treated Jesus!

"Whatever form of words Stephen used which gave rise to the accusation that he said Jesus would destroy the temple, he certainly grasped and expounded the inner meaning of Jesus' own words."

Several commentators imply, or directly state that the thrust of Stephen's message - that Jesus supersedes the temple and its localized worship - was a doctrine that the apostles themselves must have shied away from proclaiming. This is purely unwarranted speculation. The demonstrated boldness of the apostles gives us undeniable proof that they withheld no doctrine from their proclamation of the gospel out of fear that it might be too controversial.

Stephen's countenance when on trial

15) All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

On Stephen's face was not that mild, soft, angelic look that we see in so many paintings; nor was it a look of stern judgment and wrath. Instead, his face reflected the perfect peace and confidence of one who knows and trusts his God; it had the same reflected glory that Moses had as he beheld God intimately. "The description is of a person who is close to God and reflects some of His glory as a result of being in his presence (Exodus 34:29ff)."

C.H. Spurgeon, addressing his students concerning ministry, said, `Men, when you teach on heaven, let there always be a glow on your face, a gleam in your eye, and a grin on your lips. When you teach on hell, your normal face will do fine.'

As false accusations, lies, and anger preceded the rocks that would soon follow, Stephen's face reflected not hatred, not horror, but heaven.

 He is at perfect peace, knowing that his times are in God's hands and that Jesus never forsakes His people.

Chapter 7

(Subscribe to Prophecy Updates)